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Presenting Blue Moon Ice Cream Push Pops!

Yesterday we introduced you to 12 more food and drink recipes involving beer. And our first beer recipe of the week will have you wanting to do just that. Our Blue Moon Ice Cream Push Pops are a winning combo of refreshing, fun, and festive. This treat would be great for your Labor Day weekend and the last days of summer. You don't even need an ice cream maker!

Never heard of beer ice cream or does the idea weird you out? Our taste testers were skeptical of the idea at first but we won them over. You definitely taste the yeasty, malty, and orangey notes of the Blue Moon beer but it’s also creamier and sweeter from the addition of cream and sugar. We cook the beer to reduce the water, which intensifies the flavor, and to burn off some of the alcohol, which can inhibit freezing. Note: This recipe is great for push pops but might not freeze as well for traditional ice cream.

Pour beer in a small sauce pan and boil over medium-high heat until reduced by half (6 ounces).

Transfer beer to a liquid measuring cup; add sugar to beer and stir until dissolved. Grate a sprinkle of orange zest into the beer mixture. Prepare an ice bath and place measuring cup in ice bath to cool. Set aside until very cold.

In a medium-sized bowl, whip 1 cup of whipping cream to soft peaks. Gently pour chilled beer into whipped cream; fold beer into whipped cream until thoroughly incorporated. This will deflate a significant portion of the air you whipped into the cream but it will still result in a thicker and creamier ice cream than if you hadn’t taken the step to whip the cream.

Divide ice cream base between 8 push pops molds, leaving some space at the top for garnish. Freeze overnight or until firm.

After freezing the pops, it can sometimes be difficult to attach the push pop stick. If you’re having issues, we recommend placing a flat surface (such as the bottom of a glass) over the top of the push pop so you have something to press against when inserting the push pop stick.

Whip remaining 1/4 cup of whipping cream to soft peaks. Slice the orange into thin horizontal slices and then each slice into 4 quarters. Top each push pop mold with whipped cream so it looks like foam. Add an orange slice for garnish. Cheers!

What are your favorite unconventional ways to incorporate beer into cooking, drink-making, and baking? What do you think about putting beer in your ice cream? Leave us your recipes and ideas in the comments below or come talk to us on Twitter or Facebook.

Sarah Jones is a native (and proud!) Texan currently living in sunny Palo Alto. Check out Sarah’s baking and cooking recipes at The Purple Mixer.

Sarah is a former Brit + Co-er who is the woman behind Miss Jones Baking Co., a modern American baking brand and maker of the first-ever organic ready-to-use frostings and complementary line of organic baking mixes.